Proverbs 10:24

What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted. (Proverbs 10:24)

At any one time, we are either righteous or unrighteous. There is no middle ground. It is the secret things of our heart that determine whether we are righteous or unrighteous. Paul said the following.



First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. (Acts 26:20)

Repentance is not a once for all act. Jesus said the following.

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

Are we wicked or righteous? What is used to determine this? Jesus said to thief on one side of him that he would be with him in Paradise. He said nothing to the thief on his other side because he was going to Hell. The point that needs to be realised is that on the one hand, the ‘righteous thief’ had turned away from his unrighteous lifestyle in his heart. It was his desire to live the rest of his life right for God at that moment whether he lived or died. He took Jesus at his word and loved Jesus because of it. He realised that he had been given a second chance.

If we truly love God, we will see prayer after prayer answered. However, if we deceive ourselves that God doesn’t actually mind it when we sin or they’re not really that bad compared to other people, not only will our prayer life be greatly hindered but our deception may eventually destroy us.